Being a college student is a lot of work, especially with the never-ending hustle and bustle of New York City. Juggling a class schedule, attending club events, and maintaining a healthy social life, all while allowing time for self-care can be challenging. During my first semester of college, I wondered, how can I increase my productivity while still feeling refreshed and excited for the next day? The one thing I thought was slowing my daily productivity down is now helping me get more done during the day. TikTok has helped me increase my productivity through photo vlogging.
I’ve dreamt about studying in New York City since I was a little girl, and now that I’m here, I can’t let little obstacles get in the way of my day-to-day. Photo vlogging has allowed me to create content I enjoy and it even pushes me to get out more. During the day, I take photos of what I do. These photos hold me accountable. I make sure to wake up every morning at a reasonable hour, make my bed, eat a healthy breakfast, then either explore the city with friends or attend classes and get as much work done as possible. Last semester, I used to sit in my bed for hours on end, scrolling through Tik Tok, double tapping on Instagram, and laughing at all of my friends’ silly tweets. This made me push my schoolwork to the last minute, and I often found myself rushing to get it done before approaching deadlines. Now, I have turned my chronically online scrolling status into utilizing social media platforms to my advantage.
Last weekend, my friends and I decided to take a trip to go thrifting in Brooklyn. Immediately I thought it was a great way to get some photos for my next video. I had never really explored the neighboring borough, but I’m so glad I decided to take the trip over. I got so many photos for my vlogs, and I enjoyed getting out of the busy Financial District for a while.
Not only has photo vlogging helped me explore new areas of the city that I love, but it has also improved my mental well-being. These videos have single-handedly increased my productivity throughout the day. Some days, instead of photographing each thing I do, I will take the time to photograph and romanticize the little things, such as making breakfast in my Pace University dorm room or a vlog of me studying and getting homework done. Romanticizing the little things in my life here in New York has truly helped my head while allowing me to be more efficient each day.
Social media used to be an enemy of mine, it slowed me down and didn’t allow me to live each day to its full potential. But, photo vlogging changed the way I view it, it’s now a tool. Instead of just scrolling, I am motivated to go out, look nice, explore the city I study in, and take photos of each thing I do. At the end of the day, I can look back on everything I got done and feel good about it. Changing the way I use apps, specifically Tik Tok, has allowed me to adjust how I go about each day.